Publications by authors named "Denis Okello"
Background: Wounds have become a major health challenge worldwide, presenting marked humanistic and economic burdens such as disabilities and death. Annually, approximately 14 million people suffer from wounds worldwide and 80 % of these occur in developing countries like Uganda. In Uganda, besides many cases of daily wound occurrences, approximately 10 % of surgical procedures become septic wounds and consequently lead to increased morbidity and mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: In Uganda, two-dimensional (2D) radiotherapy treatments have been in use since the establishment of radiotherapy in 1995. Preliminary investigations of treatment records in November 2019 showed evidence of gaps requiring urgent attention. The purpose of this study was to improve the safety of the treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. is a medicinal plant traditionally used in China, Korea, and Japan to treat many diseases including poor gastrointestinal function, low immunity, gastric ulcers, and chronic gastritis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFor millennia, Aspilia africana has been used across Africa to treat various diseases including malaria, wounds, and diabetes. In this study, temperature influenced the in vitro germination of A. africana with highest final germination percentage (FGP) and germination index (GI) of 65.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe influence of the pH of anthocyanins on photovoltaic performance in dye-sensitized solar cells has been investigated. Anthocyanins were extracted from crushed leaf stocks of Crantz (Cassava plant) using methanol acidified with 0.5% trifluoracetic acid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Osteoporosis is a widespread condition, and this study examined the potential anti-osteoporosis effects and phytochemical profile of P. africana stem bark extracts using mouse bone marrow macrophages and zebrafish larvae.
- The experiments found that the methanolic extracts of P. africana significantly inhibited osteoclast activity (TRAP) and the production of inflammatory markers like Nitric Oxide (NO) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) while also showing promising cell viability.
- The research highlighted several bioactive compounds in the extracts with anti-osteoporosis potential and noted no signs of liver toxicity in the zebrafish larvae tested.
Root Extract of a Micropropagated Medicinal Plant Induced Apoptosis in Human Prostate Cancer Cells (PC-3) via Caspase-3 Activation.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
January 2022
Article Synopsis
- * A study evaluated the cytotoxic effects of ethanolic root extracts from micropropagated plants on PC-3 prostate cancer cells, comparing them to traditional stem-bark extracts.
- * Results showed that both extracts had dose-dependent anti-cancer effects, with the root extracts showing potential as an alternative treatment, which may also help preserve endangered plant species.
The medicinal plant, , has been traditionally used in several African countries to treat many diseases such as tuberculosis, cough, inflammation, malaria, osteoporosis, and diabetes. In this study, we developed a protocol for propagation of using indirect shoot organogenesis from leaf and root explants of -grown seedlings and assessed the tissues at different developmental stages. The highest callus induction (91.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntioxidant Activity, Polyphenolic Content, and FT-NIR Analysis of Different Medicinal Plant Tissues.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
September 2021
Article Synopsis
- The text discusses the traditional medicinal use of a specific plant in Africa, emphasizing its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties linked to secondary metabolites like alkaloids and polyphenolics.
- Different plant samples, such as callus, juvenile leaves, and roots, were tested for their antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical scavenging methods, revealing varying levels of total phenolic and flavonoid content.
- The study identifies IR (roots) as having the highest antioxidant potential, suggesting that IR, CA (callus), and WL (wild leaves) could serve as promising natural sources for developing pharmaceutical antioxidants.
Article Synopsis
- C. D. Adams is a significant medicinal plant used traditionally in Africa for treating various health issues like inflammation, diabetes, and malaria.
- A successful tissue culture protocol was developed to regenerate this plant from nodal segments using Murashige and Skoog media and specific hormones, achieving high shoot and root production.
- The study found that regenerated plants had a 95.7% survival rate during acclimatization and shared similar growth characteristics with maternal plants, suggesting this method could support large-scale propagation and conservation of the species.
The influence of concentration of anthocyanins in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) has been investigated, with focus on how concentration influence electron transport. The influence on electron transport was then linked to solar cell performance. Anthocyanins were extracted from fresh flowers of using methanol acidified with 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * The study focuses on a rare medicinal plant that requires new propagation methods due to difficulties with seed growth, highlighting the urgent need for increased populations.
- * Researchers developed a successful micropropagation protocol using nodal segment explants, achieving 100% axillary shoot initiation and 75% root initiation with specific hormonal and nutritional supplements.
- * The acclimatized plantlets showed a 98% survival rate, similar photosynthetic performance to the maternal plant, and genetic fidelity, making this protocol viable for large-scale cultivation to meet market demands.
Ethnopharmacological Potential of for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
June 2020
Inflammatory diseases are major health concerns affecting millions of people worldwide. has been used for centuries by many African communities in the treatment of a wide range of health conditions, including inflammatory diseases, osteoporosis, rheumatic pains, and wounds. Analysis of the phytochemical composition of .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEthnopharmacological Potentials of Warburgia ugandensis on Antimicrobial Activities.
Chin J Integr Med
August 2021
Warburgia ugandensis (W. ugandensis) is known by various names, including the East African greenheart, pepper bark tree, and Ugandan greenheart, and has a rich history of extensive use in the treatment of a host of human diseases in many African countries. This review is based on the botany and ethnopharmacological potentials of W.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExploring Antimalarial Herbal Plants across Communities in Uganda Based on Electronic Data.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
September 2019
Malaria is one of the most rampant diseases today not only in Uganda but also throughout Africa. Hence, it needs very close attention as it can be severe, causing many deaths, especially due to the rising prevalence of pathogenic resistance to current antimalarial drugs. The majority of the Ugandan population relies on traditional herbal medicines for various health issues.
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